Family planning is a cornerstone of women’s health and well-being. The decision of when—and whether—to start a family is one of the most pivotal choices of a woman, influencing her physical health, economic stability, and overall quality of life. In recognition of Family Planning Month this August, Organon, a global healthcare company dedicated to making a world of difference for women, reaffirms its commitment to making family planning accessible to Filipinos.
The Crucial Role of Family Planning
Family planning empowers women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, enabling them to pursue education and career opportunities, fostering economic empowerment and elevating social status. It also enhances maternal and child health by reducing the risks associated with unintended pregnancies. However, there remains an urgent need to strengthen efforts on family planning in the Philippines.
In 2019, the Philippine government declared teenage pregnancy as a ‘national social emergency,’ saying that the number of adolescent pregnancies has become a ‘national concern.’ Meanwhile, according to 2022 data by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippines posted a 5.4 percent teenage pregnancy rate among Filipino women aged 15 to 19 years.
Advocates have been urging legislators for the urgent passage of a law that addresses adolescent pregnancies. The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation aimed at addressing the root causes of adolescent pregnancy. It provides for comprehensive sexuality education, improved access to adolescent-friendly SRHR services, and data collection mechanisms to inform future policies and programs.
In support of adolescent pregnancy prevention, Organon is unwavering in its mission to empower women through comprehensive family planning solutions. Collaborating with a wide range of organizations worldwide that are likewise committed to women’s health, the company strives to provide education, training, and enhanced access to family planning services.
At the recently held Family Planning 2030 Regional Workshop, an event organized by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) Asia Pacific Regional Hub, Organon participated as a panelist to emphasize the importance of providing equal access to fertility treatments. During the workshop, Carole Lopez, Market Access, Policy, and Communication Lead of Organon SHIP Sub-Cluster (Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines), stated, “At Organon, we advocate for equal access to treatments. We believe that everyone should be able to grow their family, no matter where they live, their financial circumstances, their sexual orientation, their relationship or gender status, or their demographic and cultural background. However, in many countries, barriers to accessing contraceptive and fertility treatments persist, particularly for certain populations. Our goal is to bring the community together to advocate for education and policy reforms to ensure equal access to treatments and services for all aspiring parents around the world.”
Empowering Women to Make Informed Decisions
Central to Organon’s initiatives is the “Her Plan is Her Power” campaign, which fosters community-led responses and collective action to reduce unplanned pregnancies. This campaign empowers women and girls by addressing barriers and inequities that perpetuate unplanned pregnancies, equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to better plan their futures.
Organon has pledged to help prevent 120 million unplanned pregnancies worldwide by 2030 and, is nearly halfway toward achieving this goal. This initiative underscores the company’s dedication to creating a future where women can make choices that positively impact their lives and communities.
Through this campaign, Organon is aiming to enhance innovation in contraception access, bolster awareness on reproductive health, including contraceptive options and their correct use, expand access to contraceptive solutions, and partner with other organizations to strengthen healthcare systems via stronger policies, data, capacity and representation of voices of women and girls.
In the Philippines, the healthcare company also launched its “Nanay’s Day Out” program, a series of events that focus on educating, protecting, and engaging mothers in their journey as women. In every leg of the series, Organon emphasizes that family planning safeguards the well-being of mothers and their partners. In 2024, the program had so far been launched in Biñan City, the province of Laguna, the province of Cavite, and Pasig City.
A Vision for a Healthier Future for Women
Organon’s overarching goal is to build a world where women, the pillars of a thriving society, can access solutions that meet their unique health needs. This vision drives every initiative and partnership, fueling a commitment to not just dream of a better future but to actively create it.
By addressing health conditions unique to women, those that affect them disproportionately, or impact them differently, the company ignites its purpose to advance the complete health of women at all stages of their lives. Organon’s diverse portfolio offers solutions across various areas, including reproductive health, cardiovascular disease, neurology, autoimmune, and respiratory conditions.
“Universal access to sexual and reproductive health is well recognized as a crucial component of the FP2030. We feel Organon can play a significant role. By addressing gender-related disparities in health, we build a more sustainable future for women, families, economies and society,” said Carole Lopez.
By convening and catalyzing an ecosystem of like-minded partners and innovators, Organon sparks collective action to usher in a new era in healthcare that empowers women globally. This includes improving research, enhancing education, investing in partnerships to expand options, and advancing gender equity.
ADVT.
This article is brought to you by Organon Philippines.